ox OYSTER-CULTUPwE IN SCOTLAND. 287 



Sccondy The acclimatisation of youDg Americans as a source 

 of supplying our exhausted Scottish beds has been thoroughly 

 successful, and there can be no doubt that these improve vastly 

 in plumpness, as well as in delicacy, on those of our mud flats 

 that are fitted for their laying down. 



It is unnecessary for us to enter here into details by which 

 to show how a portion of foreshore may be best laid out for 

 breeding or fattening purposes. This is dependent largely on 

 local circumstances, and would also trespass far too largely on 

 your space. Enough that we have throughout the foreshores of 

 Scotland vast stretches of mud flats, well suited, with little cost, 

 for laying down oyster fattening beds, by which the present 

 dearth of good edible oysters would be greatly remedied. If the 

 subject were taken up by our shore population with spirit, it 

 would soon add a most important industry, at very small expen- 

 diture, to the more especially suitable industries of Scotland. 



ON THE ECONOMICAL USE OF TURNIPS AS FOOD FOR 



CATTLE AND SHEEP. 



By the Rev. John Gillespie, M.A., Mouswald Manse, Dumtrie?. 



Imioortance of the Cultivation and ConsumjJtion of Turnips. 



The introduction of turnip husbandry marked a new era in the 

 history of agriculture in Scotland. Moreover, the cultivation 

 of this root crop has been prosecuted by the farmers in Xorth 

 Britain with characteristic industry, enterprise, and success. 

 The comparatively moist climate, as well as the free friable 

 character of much of the soil, are highly favourable to its 

 growth. This was apparent to Scotch farmers soon after the 

 cultivation of turnips became general, and no effort has since 

 been spared to discover the circumstances most favourable to 

 their successful growth. On almost all points the cultivators of 

 turnips liad to feel their way ; but so earnest, systematic, and 

 persevering were the practical steps taken by fanners' clubs and 

 individual farmers to study the circumstances most conducive to 

 the growth of Iieavy crops, that a large measure of success was 

 attained at a comparatively early period. The principal points 

 investigated included the following: — the preliminary prepara- 

 tion of the soil, the best varieties of seeds, the most suitable 

 time of sowing dillerent kinds in dillerent districts and altitudes 

 so as to secure the most healthy and bulky crop, distances apart 

 of drills, width of hoeing, kinds and ([uantities of manures to be 

 applied to supi)lemiuit the farmyard manure, ^c. A great 

 revolution in public sentiment in regard to all these particulars 

 has been ell'ected since turnips were tirst extensively cultivated. 



